I remember reading that the Chevrolet Vega was one of the first GM products to use some sort of dipping-galvanizing method (I know.... Hard to believe), but the process was poorly designed and implemented, and the rustproofing materials never made it to many body locations.

That, coupled with a thinner steel body and no fender-well liners in the first several year model runs, and owners got bodies that rusted quickly...

From Wikipedia...

After a six-stage zinc phosphate rustproofing process and two minutes submerged in a 65,000 US gallons (246,052 L; 54,124 imp gal) electrophoretic painting vat (Fisher Body Division&#146;s "Elpo" electrophoretic deposition of polymers process) to prime and further protect them from rust, assembled bodies were dried, wet-sanded, sealer-coated, sprayed with acrylic lacquer and baked in a 300 °F (149 °C) degree oven. Fisher's rustproofing was faulty. Failure to penetrate a gap between front fenders and cowl allowed moist debris and salt to rust the untreated steel, and trapped air prevented coating inside the tops of the front fenders, which on early Vegas had no protective liners.[8] The finance department had rejected liners as they would have added a $2.28 unit cost. After GM spent millions replacing thousands of corroded fenders under warranty, Chevrolet installed stopgap plastic deflectors in late 1973 and full plastic liners in 1974. Rust also damaged the rocker panels and door bottoms, the area beneath the windshield, and the body above the rockers. It sometimes seized the front suspension cam bolts, preventing alignment work, necessitating removal with a cutting torch and replacement by all-new parts.

Another new Accord tonight, the brakes work well on these, as this one looked like it wanted to plow into a line of stopped traffic, braking just in time. Also saw a dirty dark red Tesla, a Dart, and another new unplated white W212 E-class with pano, couldn't tell the model but not a Bluetec.

I've been wondering when I'd see the new little Dodges since the competition from Ford and Chevy are everywhere. Yesterday I saw two new Darts, the first was black with those damnable black wheels and sported an R/T badge (I think, it was pretty small).

It may be that they don't stand out when I see one usually from the rear. I recognized one a couple weeks ago on the interstate downtown. In black. Looked okay. Then I realized it was next to a black Focus, a new one. Their rears look similar other than the Focus has Sonata syndrome and is overstyled. The width of the Dart rear or the fenders make it look diminutive; the taillights on the Focus make it look dominant. Dart rear needs more ooooomph visually.

Isn't DC kind of like the west coast - a mostly import town? Bad news for Detroit, because regardless of what people may personally think about gov workers and contractors, they tend to be a highly educated workforce, which means they tend to be consumer decision leaders rather than followers.

I'm looking forward to sitting in the X1 at the next car show. Not enough headroom in a 3er, but like smaller/cheaper than X3. Get an X1 with rwd and (possibly) NO sunroof. Big hit to resale value, I know, but I like my headroom.

Had my car in for a couple of adjustments this morning - spent an hour at the dealer, sat in everything on the floor. Kind of amused that the CLS appears to have basic C-class HVAC controls. The C really does feel smaller and lighter than my E, not to mention less equipped. But not bad, the interior materials seemed nice enough. Sat in a new S63 with a 150K sticker - ooh boy.

Also saw 2 Tesla sedans, one parked at the MB dealer, the other at an alignment shop.

Yeah I see the new 2013 Civics here too. They did a good job with the refresh as other than the car's general shape, it does not look much like the 2012 Civic.

It's funny because I see 2012 models on the road and they do seem plain compared to the 2013's. The 2012 looks like a design that could have come out in 2001, it's so dull. I've never seen a manufacturer do a big refresh like this only 1 year after a full redesign. Gotta give Honda credit for listening to the criticizm but on the other hand it makes you wonder what they were thinking in the first place? The reputation they earned from the last 20 years is not enough to carry a new model into sales record books amid the competitive small car market today.

I like the theory that the 2012 Civic was decontented as not to compete with the ILX - but I guess that doesn't hold as much water in Canada. The 12 really does have a bland cheap look to it, even the exterior plastic just doesn't look up to snuff. Really bad planning, I wonder what it cost them.